Juha Miettinen lost his life after a serious crash during a Nürburgring endurance race in Germany on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The accident happened very early in the race and involved seven cars, forcing officials to stop everything right away. Miettinen was taken out of his BMW 325i and rushed to the medical center, but doctors could not save him. Organizers later confirmed his death. The race was part of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and also linked to the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers. Race control quickly showed a red flag so emergency teams could reach the crash site without delay. Other drivers involved in the accident were also taken for medical checks, but none of them had life-threatening injuries.Four-time Formula 1 race winner Max Verstappen was one of the drivers in the race. He was not hurt in the crash. As of now, Max Verstappen has not shared any public message about the incident.Officials from ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring released a clear statement after the crash. They said, “During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race.” They also confirmed that “despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver Juha Miettinen after extraction from the vehicle.“
Juha Miettinen’s last Instagram message before Nürburgring crash and tribute plans confirmed
Just hours before the race, Juha Miettinen shared a post on Instagram. He looked excited and ready for the weekend. In his own words, he wrote, “Ready for the N24H Qually races. Two races in two days. The first one into the night. The second one way too early in the morning, just so you get a taste of that Nürburgring 24H race feeling…”After the news of his death, fans and fellow drivers filled his comment section with emotional messages. One person wrote, “I will miss you dearly. For many years, you were a role model and a good friend to me. We shared some great times on the track, and you always helped me never to lose my respect for the Nordschleife. I am proud to have been your friend; I will never forget you.” Another message read, “Rest in Peace Juha. Enjoy this final race and win it, for all your family. See you in heaven.”Because of the crash, organizers decided not to continue racing on Saturday evening. Instead, they planned a tribute to honor Juha Miettinen. A minute of silence will take place during Sunday’s grid formation so everyone at the track can remember him together. This tragic moment has left the racing world in shock, especially as it came during a major event with top drivers on track.
